Turkey’s recently adopted Law on Foreigners and International Protection is the nation’s first comprehensive law on asylum matters and it marks a significant step forward for the protection of vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees on Turkish soil. However, despite the advances that the law will bring for individuals seeking protection in Turkey, the transition from the current system to the new one could take a couple of years. All the personnel working in this field should be trained in human rights and refugee law. Without such training, there is a danger that the current asylum system and practices might prevail despite the new law, because of institutional memory and lack of correct implementation.
Mr Benton,
To ask the Committee of Ministers:
- How can the Council of Europe monitor the situation under the new Law in order to ensure that the rights that the legislation guarantees for asylum seekers and refugees are consistently upheld?
- How can the Council of Europe promote and support the delivery of comprehensive training on human rights and refugee law to all personnel who will work under the new Directorate of Migration and Asylum, which the new law establishes?